Mobile Payment Bridge for Offline Transactions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing payment processing systems for vending machines and other payment accepting units require a persistent network connection to facilitate cashless payments, which is not always available, especially in remote locations.

Innovation Solution

A mobile-device-to-machine payment processing system that allows for transactions over a non-persistent network connection using a mobile device as a communication bridge between the payment accepting unit and a remote server, with features such as hands-free mode and manual mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a persistent network connection is required for cashless payments, then payment processing reliability is improved, but system adaptability to remote locations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment processing reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to remote locations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing a persistent network connection at a remote location before the transaction occurs. The payment accepting unit proactively connects to the network, authenticates itself, and maintains the connection ready for transactions, rather than requiring connection at the moment of payment. This allows the system to be adaptable to remote locations while maintaining reliable payment processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The payment accepting unit acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the remote network. It maintains a persistent connection to the network independently, then mediates transactions by communicating with mobile devices through short-range communication technology. This intermediary role allows transactions to occur without requiring the mobile device to have direct network connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If a persistent network connection is maintained at the payment accepting unit, then transaction speed is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of maintaining a continuously active persistent connection, the system uses periodic action by establishing and maintaining the persistent connection only during specific periods when the payment accepting unit is operational and expecting transactions. The connection can be established, maintained during business hours, and then suspended or reduced during idle periods, balancing transaction speed with energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12236425B2Method and system for presenting representations of payment accepting unit events

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 PAYRANGE INC

AI summary

A mobile device presents representations of payment accepting unit events on a display, by identifying a payment accepting unit that is available to accept payment from a mobile payment application executing on the mobile device, displaying a visual indication of the payment accepting unit and accepting user input to receive selection of the payment accepting unit and trigger payment, establishing a wireless communication path including the mobile device and the payment accepting unit, enabling user interaction with the user interface to complete the transaction, exchanging information with the available payment accepting unit via the one or more radio transceivers in conjunction with the transaction, and displaying an updated user interface of the mobile payment application.